Virgin Islands

No Program

Program Development

Beginning in the 2018-2019 school year, the Virgin Islands Department of Education (VIDE) introduced a preschool program called the “Granny Preschool Program,” which was developed to cater to pre-K students who will enter kindergarten during the enrollment period for the upcoming school year. The program was created because data showed that incoming kindergarteners were entering kindergarten without the necessary readiness skills.

Eligibility

Any child who turns four by December 31 of the enrollment year is eligible for the Granny Preschool Program. Registration during open enrollment period is conducted through the Division of Student Services. Interested parents must complete the Granny Preschool Eligibility Questionnaire to ensure that preschooler meet the program requirements. Preschoolers are selected in the order in which parents have completed the questionnaire.

Collaborative Efforts

Prior to program implementation, state and district Department of Education stakeholders played a vital role in the execution of the Granny Preschool Program. Additionally, collaboration was instituted amongst the following community agencies for Granny Preschool operational licenses: the Department of Human Services, the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, the Virgin Islands Fire Department, and the Department of Health.

Curriculum

Waterford, a research-based, integrated early learning resource is used. Waterford provides a multi-sensory learning experience and is designed to help all children build the foundation for a lifetime of learning. Data collected through observations, individualized assessments, and work samples is used to support students through a personalized learning approach.

Data Collection

The Learning Accomplishment Profile Third Edition (LAP-3) provides a systematic method for observing the skill development of any child functioning in the 36 to 72-month age range, including children with disabilities. The LAP-3 is administered during the beginning, middle, and end of the school.

Other Early Childhood Initiatives

Additionally, the Department of Human Services, which houses the Office Preschool Services, oversees early childhood education and care across multiple settings. The Department of Human Services uses local funds to surpass the federally required Head Start local match. Currently, almost 80% of low-income preschoolers are served through Head Start in the territory. 

The Virgin Islands Child Care Revised Rules and Regulations provide standards that all child care and early childhood education facilities, including private centers, Head Start, and Early Head Start, must follow. All early childhood education teachers and directors were required to earn a CDA credential by June 2015, and 24 hours of professional development training is required each year. These regulations also establish maximum class sizes of 18 for 3-year-olds (with a 1:9 staff to child ratio) and 20 for 4-year-olds (with a 1:10 staff to child ratio). 

The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Human Services was awarded $725,112 under the Preschool Development Birth through Five (PDG B–5) grant in December 2018.

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